The case is about Puja Khedkar, a former IAS trainee, who is accused of lying about having a disability and using fake certificates to pass the civil services exam. The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped her from being arrested until February 14. On that date, the court will look at the case again and has asked the Delhi government and the UPSC to provide more information.

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Charges against Puja Khedkar

Ms. Khedkar is accused of taking advantage of benefits meant for people from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to help her pass the civil services exam. The UPSC also said that she took the exam more than six times, which is against the rules, by changing her own name and her parents' names. On top of that, the UPSC claims she lied about her physical condition by providing fake documents.

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High Court denies bail

Earlier, the Delhi High Court rejected her bail plea. The High Court stated that the charges against her represented “a classic example of fraud” not just against the authorities but also the nation at large. Ms. Khedkar appealed to the Supreme Court, calling the High Court’s decision "erroneous."

Ms. Khedkar, who had claimed that she faced sexual harassment by her senior officer, denied the accusations. She stated that she was being targeted because of the allegations she raised. Ms. Khedkar presented a certificate from a Maharashtra hospital, which stated that she had an “old ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear with left knee instability.” She argued that her attempts in the 'divyang' category should only be considered and claimed that no fake documents were found after UPSC verified her biometric data.

Action taken by UPSC

In response to the charges, the UPSC revoked her selection as a junior government officer and barred her from making any further attempts at the civil services exams. She was later dismissed from government service two months after the action was taken.